A qualitative exploration of the thoughts, feelings, experiences and expectations of student district nurses

Abstract

A District Nurse (DN) is a registered nurse who has undertaken a Nursing and Midwifery Council approved programme. Over the years, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of qualified DNs. However, this is slowly changing, with the number of nurses enrolled on to a Specialist Practitioner Qualification in District Nursing (SPQDN) programme now increasing. There is a strategic drive, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, which strives to bring care into people's homes, as opposed to the acute setting. However, to do this, a highly skilled and competent workforce is needed. In order to explore the experiences and expectations of student DNs, a qualitative study was undertaken. A cohort of SPQDN students (programme commencing September 2019) located in the North West of England, were interviewed. A face-to-face focus group (n=9) was held within the first week of the start of the programme. An online focus group (n=7) and a single online interview (n=1) took place at the end of the programme (July 2020). Key themes were identified within the two data collection points. These included 'feelings', 'career aspirations', 'the role and title of District Nurse' and 'future practice'. Findings showed that initially, students were anxious, apprehensive and excited with regards to starting the SPQDN. However, at the end of the programme, the students noted that they had grown in confidence as a clinical practitioner and as a leader.